Chery Tiggo 8 CSH reviewed: seven-seat super hybrid claiming 745-mile range

Chery's Tiggo 8 CSH brings a third row of seats to the super-hybrid powertrain first seen in the smaller Tiggo 7, andMark Rainford's review finds it competitive on value if not flawless on refinement.

The plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a 150kW, 365Nm electric motor and an 18.4kWh battery. Chery claims a combined WLTC range of up to 745 miles (1,199 km), with 30 to 80 per cent DC fast charging in around 20 minutes. The SUV also supports 3.3kW vehicle-to-load output for powering external appliances.

"The electric motor does most of the work, so this car does drive like an electric car around town," Rainford said. "You get the same instant torque, the same instant power delivery, and I would say it's actually slightly more instant in the Tiggo 8."

Inside, a 15.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip replaces the Tiggo 7's twin-screen layout. The range-topping Summit trim adds a head-up display, 12 speakers, heated and ventilated front seats, and a reclining, massaging front-passenger seat.

Cargo space ranges from 117 litres with all seven seats in use to 494 litres with the third row folded and 1,930 litres with both rear rows down. Rainford noted the third row is best suited to children.

The reviewer was less enthusiastic about the lane-keeping assistance and capacitive steering-wheel buttons, but concluded the Tiggo 8 delivers strong value. "You're getting a lot of car for your money here," he said. "It's a really good, very competent family car on the whole, with enough space for everybody and your luggage as well."

In the UK, the Tiggo 8 CSH Aspire starts at approx. $42,430 (£33,545), with the Summit priced at approx. $46,250 (£36,545).